June 25, 2010
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Summer lends opportunities for parents to be out in public more often with their children going to movies, malls, amusement parks, museums, and many other exciting places. When nature calls, keeping our kids safe in public restrooms is a concern, particularly when we are with children of the opposite gender from ourselves.
By the age of six or seven, your child will have the physical ability as well as the desire to go on his or her own, but it is not safe for your young children to go into a public restroom alone. You should always accompany your children to the restroom, even if it means getting the baby out of the high chair at the restaurant and taking him, along with your diapered three year old, to the bathroom with your seven year old. Convenience never trumps the safety of your kids.
There generally isn’t a safety issue when parents go into public restrooms with their children of the same gender: you make sure the restrooms are hygienic and that the children wash their hands thoroughly after going. The problems arise when mom is out with the boys, dad is out with the girls or when one is a single parent. The easiest way to solve this problem is to try to find a family restroom where everyone can go in at once. Although these types of facilities are becoming more common, they are still not universally available. If you can’t find one of these, try to find a single-stall facility - one where no one else will be in there with your child. You can stand outside the door (instruct the child not to lock it in case they end up needing help) to make sure no one else goes inside.
In cases where you must use a multi-stall facility and your child requires assistance, use the one appropriate for your gender. If dad is bringing his daughter into the men’s room, it is always a good idea to check first that no one is using a urinal. If someone comes in while you are in the facility, ask them politely if they can wait a minute, and tell them why. Your child’s safety is worth a little inconvenience and most people are not going to mind it. Just make sure your children do not invade the privacy of others by peeking under stalls and between cracks in the doors while you are using the facilities yourself or assisting a smaller child. Although some people might find this amusing, most will not. Good manners are important, even in a public restroom!
If your child does not require assistance, take him or her to the gender-appropriate facility. Go with them if no one is in there. If someone comes in, step outside the door and either talk to the child while they are in there if you can, or announce to the person going in that your child is in there and you’ll be waiting right outside the door for him or her to come out. It is okay to let everyone know you are ready to protect if necessary. If it is a very busy facility and you cannot go in, find another parent entering with children and let them know you are sending your son or daughter in alone while you stand outside to wait. Most people understand the child/public bathroom problem and will be more than happy to lend a hand.
Before you leave home, think about what types of facilities are available at your destination(s) and plan accordingly. Summer activities and travel, while fun and exciting, present unfamiliar situations and surroundings which pose challenges to child safety. Take the opportunity to update your child’s profile with new photos and informational changes before you leave on your summer adventures; a little bit of forethought may just save your child.
Sources:
http://childparenting.about.com/od/healthsafety/f/FAQrestroom.htm
http://hubpages.com/hub/Children--Public-Restrooms--and-Safety
http://www.ehow.com/how_2302965_teach-child-safety-public-bathrooms.html
